There’s no way to ask this without sounding arrogant, but is it normal to be frustrated with the quantity of objectively unintelligent people in this world?
It is really common, especially in teens and young adults. After that, people often just give fewer shits about random people’s thoughts about history and science
It’s a very common feeling, but it’s important to remember that you are also in your own bubble, and it’s entirely possible that you look objectively unintelligent to someone else.
I sell mattresses.
A plumber does plumbing stuff.
Electricians do their thing
Roofers roof.
I’m educated enough to understand the above jobs. I’m not intelligent enough to do the above jobs. That is why I hire people. My area of expertise is not yours. People are just people. Accept them where they are at & help them to become better when you can & only when they are ready.
tbh it doesn’t even really come down to intelligence. I’m pretty fucking dumb but I get mad about this too, because I’m willing to improve myself, to change my mind with new information, to know when to think for myself and when to seek out the better informed, to think critically as much as I can, to think or learn or enjoy thinking and learning for its own sake. I get mad and frustrated when people don’t do those things. and maybe that just makes me arrogant in a different way but I’m fine with that, I think some things are worth being a little too proud over
I stopped being annoyed. Creating a world view that requires 0 smart people to exist is zen. Systems should only be designed that run using an inefficient work force.
Staying off the internet helps with the feelings of frustration (not that you won’t meet the ignorant in the wild, but most people seem to be willing to display their worst selves online).
Mostly, though, I am sad at the wasted opportunities. We have basically the entirety of recorded human wisdom and experience and creativity at our fingertips, and instead of seeing it as an opportunity to learn, we spend hours watching people dance on Tik Tok.
I want to add that people have different strengths. I might consider some of my family members pretty unintelligent because of who they vote for, especially when it is against their own interests… but they’re also very smart about particular subjects or certain jobs. Like, my dad could take apart and rebuild a car, but he’s a nutcase.
We are all in our own bubbles and we just kinda have to do our best to expand our own understanding but also that of others.
Yes. There’s a reason for the saying “I don’t suffer fools gladly.” I’m regularly astonished at the lack of common sense or basic general knowledge I encounter in other adults in my day-to-day life.
The most intelligent people in my life generally don’t blame individuals and classify people as “stupid”.
Yes we are in a world of division and misinformation, but it’s vital to listen and understand why people are feeling this way and what we can do to change course instead of ridiculing people.
What bothers me more is people who think they are intelligent, and then behave in a way that contradicts intelligence.
Like people who refuse to update their stances or opinions based on new evidence, because having an inaccurate opinion somehow equals personal failure. Or people who look at said new evidence and immediately start reaching for things to discredit said evidence.
Like bruh, it’s okay to be wrong. Just update yourself to be right when the opportunity arises.
That might not be a lack of intelligence but a lack of education. Also, in an age that promotes specialization and profitability over all else, being well read is not as valued as it once was. I work in tech and know many people that are brilliant in this field but ignorant of pretty much everything else.
I don’t think it’s really lack of intelligence that you’re seeing but the consequences of the choices our society has made.
I find myself more frustrated with objectively intelligent people who choose to be stupid and ignorant. Like stupid is a chose, dumb is not (in my mind). And most dumb people I know are actually really receptive to learning they just haven’t had the opportunity or anyone who cares to teach specifically them.
Stupid people however are not interested in anything other than being right because they view being wrong as a moral failure (thank you puritan nonsense). And while being dumb and stupid is annoying, being intelligent and stupid is the epitome of cutting off your nose to spite your face.
I met someone who legit couldn’t point out texas on a map. We live in the United States. She was not a little kid and she isn’t too dumb to grasp it either. This is someone who absolutely should’ve known where texas was. Some people just don’t care to learn very basic knowledge about the world around them.
I met someone who legit couldn’t point out texas on a map. We live in the United States. She was not a little kid and she isn’t too dumb to grasp it either. This is someone who absolutely should’ve known where texas was. Some people just don’t care to learn very basic knowledge about the world around them.
When I was in school, we never got to the end of the history book in any history class, from grade school all the way through college. Now, at age 60, I’ve lived through a lot of recent history, and when I see discussions of politics on Reddit and other social media, I keep thinking, “Why don’t these people know anything about the political events of even the 1990’s?” And then I realize, “Oh, I know this stuff because I lived through it and remember it, and these younger people weren’t born yet, or were little kids when this stuff took place.” And it looks like they never read those last chapters of their history books either.
I find myself more frustrated with objectively intelligent people who choose to be stupid and ignorant. Like stupid is a choice, dumb is not (in my mind). And most dumb people I know are actually really receptive to learning they just haven’t had the opportunity or anyone who cares to teach specifically them.
Stupid people however are not interested in anything other than being right because they view being wrong as a moral failure (thank you puritan nonsense). And while being dumb and stupid is annoying, being intelligent and stupid is the epitome of cutting off your nose to spite your face.
i like the theory of multiple intelligences (i think that’s what it’s called?). everyone is smart as something: emotional intelligence, school smarts, etc. you could be really smart at school but totally stupid at common sense.
I’m a flight attendant who got a full ride to college. I said I would do it for a year or free travel, yet I’ve stayed. Everyday I’m reminded how unintelligent the world is. Many flight attendants are just dumb. I stopped even trying to hold a conversation with them.
Even stupid people can bring insight to an issue. Especially if the problem has people involved- you have to not only come up with a solution, you have to sell it. That’s when I try to bring in people who can relate to others well on their level. If I can convince ONE person that plan C is a good thing, most others will come along too.
Were all idiots , and were all ignorant. Everyone is just guessing at the end of the day. I’ve met one truly illiterate person in my life, and he would 100% outlive me if society collapsed.
In 1970 there were 2.3 Billion people and for a lot of good reasons people knew if they were knowledgeable or not. And we stayed in our lanes. We’re currently at 8.02 Billion and surrounded by people proud of their ignorance and even more proud of not wanting to learn.
Find your tribe and stick together, because at 10 Billion, chaos is going to reign in most places.
Gotta remember they are irrelevant to your own life so care factor zero. I regularly run into idiots on Reddit and their stupidity ends up being quality entertainment
The problem isn’t intelligence, it’s tribalism. Most truly stupid ideas people support are shibboleths for some group or other. Like the young earth creationists- contrast how they answer questions about the age of the earth vs anything that’s not wrapped in their ideology. If you asked them about, frex, trade patterns in Japanese Manchuria, they’d admit they didn’t know and go look it up. But somehow, they claim to know the answer to this complicated geological question of the age of the planet without even reading the literature. Because it’s not real, it’s make-believe to signal group identity.
Not everyone is interested in history and science.
Think of all the people who aren’t particularly smart, but still successful and happy in life.
Then think about how smart you are and how you still have problems.
Ask yourself how you’d like to be treated by people who’d be able to help you with the things you struggle with.
Remember to try and be that way towards others in what you have to offer, even when you feel frustrated when people struggle with the things you find easy.
If you were competing against the entire population of the earth and they were all as smart or smarter than you, do you think you would be more or less successful at life than you are now?
Yes! It can be really annoying. Though I think it’s important to remember that human stupidity is extremely contextual. A lot of the things humans mess with are things we invented and only we use. Written language, computers, cars, etc. are frankly insane innovations. A wolf, for example, is not expected to know grammar, civics, or economics to any extent. But humans are, and I think it’s important to remember that, while humans are incredibly well suited to knowledge, we aren’t born knowing. We are animals, who must learn to be people.
there’s a war on intellectualism and constant coddling of the dumbest people. common sense doesn’t protect a business from a lawsuit in the u.s. so we are just reaping what we’ve sewn at this point
I struggle with this mostly at work. I’m middle management at a grocery store and deal with all levels of experience and intelligence. This is across employees and customers. If someone has an open mind about learning then that is what matters to me. Had a conversation with an 18 year old about how they basically aren’t dependable at all and how them struggling (and mostly failing) to work one 3-5 hr shift a week isn’t acceptable. Basically trying to tell them to quit. The response I got was so out of touch with reality I almost choked. They asked to transfer to another location.
In my experience, you’re not as smart as you think you are. But you don’t know other people, and there are dumber than you give them credit for. So I guess it’s a wash. Either way, I get it I am very dissatisfied with a lot of people around me. More disappointed I think is the better word.
But people nowadays are actually more intelligent than they were in the past, so at least we’ve got that going for us I guess.
The average IQ is 100, which is true no matter what is being measured, or how, in such tests. Half the population is less intelligent than the other half.
To paraphrase George Carlin, remember how stupid the average person is, then consider that half the population is more stupid than that. Not to put too fine a point on it, SOMEBODY has to be relatively stupid, just statistically.
you are frustrated that there are lots of people more stupid than you. but you need to reframe this:
It would be even more frustrating if the opposite were true: if there were not many people more stupid than you, it would mean that you were one of the dumb people. You would lack the ability to protect yourself from liars, charlatans, and scammers.
If you could snap your fingers and make everybody in the world smarter, it would stop your current frustration, but cause new and worse frustrations.
Yes- I feel pretty dumb about it but I only realized how dumb people were after graduating from college and working odd jobs until I could get a stable one. I guess I was just naive and expected more, In other news I wish I was less intelligent (not that I’m a genius) because I feel like those people have much more fun.
Think about it this way: the IQ scale for all of its faults is based on a normalized Bell curve. That means the average IQ is 100 with a normal distribution in both directions. Therefore, half of the 8 billion people on the planet, have an IQ below 100.
Yea but you’ll learn that oftentimes in the circles you personally want to be in, whether professionally or in your personal life, you will encounter many people who are just as smart or smarter than you. You’ll find places filled with people you respect. I recently joined my local Gem and Mineral society, learning to do some lapidary and silversmithing stuff. I’m flabbergasted at the wealth of knowledge and experience I encounter over and over, with so many members. Tons of really smart people and extremely skilled artists.
Yes, but the way you deal with it is by getting to know some of those same people. You’ll often find they have a strength in something you don’t. Academic knowledge is important, but it’s not everything.
I try to frame it as I’ve had stupid and dumb moments or even for entire years. I’m not stupid. There are 7 billion people in this world and that is a lot of stupid and dumb moments and phases.
Well, I am a small female who has been told to retake a computerized math test after pointing out that the area of a 11ft by 12ft square couldn’t be 5 x the radius. Soo…yes.
It’s not just the ignorance that is noticeable,.. but to me the biggest thing that annoys me is that people just simply dont seem to care any more. (they don’t care bout others, they don’t care about how their behavior effects other people around them.)
When I go through daily life and am confronted with various situations , I try to ask myself:
How can I fix this for me ?
How can I fix this for me and people around me ?
How can I fix this for me, people around me and people who come along in time after me ?
.. Ideally, that 3rd option is the best option. Not always possible but it’s what I strive for.
But a lot of people these days just seem to have a “I got mine, f everyone else” soft of attitude. I think part of that is driven by anger and desperation and etc.
I think it’s also a “failure of Leadership”. When you have people in higher up positions who are “modeling bad behavior” (such as not following laws or not being held accountable) .. it percolates down to people below who think “Well, if nobody else is following laws,.. I won’t either”
There’s a air of truth here, but that mentality is a bit arrogant. I say this as someone who’s felt this, but I’ve been humbled enough times that I know it’s not entirely true. Are there some mind-bogglingly stupid mfs out there? Absolutely! That said, intelligent people are more common than you’d think. Some are like me, I’m a bit of a clumsy goofball sometimes and I can look like an idiot to some people. I’ve also had really deep conversations with people and told that I’m wise beyond my years.
Hard to judge. Unless I see exam scores, I won’t judge people. Although you can kind of tell, I’ve been surprised before. People don’t go out of their way to figure stuff out. It takes too much energy. You probably don’t either and even if you did, you are not them. Judging them too harshly is the worse crime here. Be smart, be empathetic and kind.
Where I live, paragons of wisdom like Joe Rogan and Ben Shapiro are doing the best they can to educate and enlighten a recalcitrant, stubbornly ignorant populace.
Got people’s blood boiling out here cause people don’t know Julius Caesar didn’t have the title of emperor, or these sheep don’t know what the Mpemba Effect is and how it affects their refrigerator ice.
I gave up a while ago once i realised the world didn’t change much from highschool, legitimately one of my worst nightmares came to light and well i’ve just been givin up since people are dumb and they believe their assumptions over ur facts even when they are supposedly “smart” and it makes me upset that when asking a straightforward question makes ya a “dumbass” when asking questions is how ya learn and get smart in the first place. This breed of humanity is really just against intellect in general i believe
If you are of average intelligence, then that means half the world is dumber than you. And half is smarter. The dumber half is just really loud and proud of their ignorance. And the smarter you are, the less ignorance (and bliss) you have.
I’m not very smart. Average intelligence at best. And I am so fucking tired of how stupid people are. I mean In specific in ways that they can improve. I don’t mean people should be brilliant mathematicians, or the next Socrates. I mean basic critical thinking. This is U.S.-centric, but an example is the current economy. Things were ok. Some room for improvement, of course, but trucking along and projected to continue to do so. Then that dumbass orange menace got his hands on things, tanked it, and people are actually believing it when he blames Biden. That’s the kind of stupidity I’m so so tired of.
I think there’s a “sweet spot” when it comes to intelligence. You’re objectively smarter than the average people around you, but you can still relate to them on their level. Too much intelligence makes you seem weird and out of touch. And it alienates you.
Anyone can know about science or history. Maybe they don’t.
Intelligence is how quickly you’re able to learn and apply that information to context.
Someone tries to say that they should change something some way.
You tell them that it’s already been done and didn’t work, what they did and what the result was.
An intelligent person thinks, sometimes accepts it, usually questions it. As you feed them more information, either they realized it makes sense, or they bring up different factors and possibilities that could make it work.
An unintelligent person either accepts it or insists upon doing it, even if you give them the information as to why it wouldn’t work.
A middling intelligence person is frustrated in such a world. A truly intelligent person figures out how to make an enjoyable game of separating the fools and their money. Which are you; middling or truly intelligent?
Youre probably not as smart as you’ve lead yourself to believe and undoubtedly have an unchecked ego if you think “knowing history or science” should discount someone’s opinions or ideas. Ironically it shows that if anything you’re no different in being unable to “see past their own bubble of ignorance.”
If you feel there are a large quantity of unintelligent people, you’re likely one of them. Just about everyone has something they know far more than average.
It‘s important to keep in mind that not knowing anything about history or science is not a sign of being unintelligent. Intelligence and education are not the same thing.
It’s frustrating. Especially if you’re older and grew up in an era that valued intelligence. Idiocracy came way too fast.
I always considered myself average to below average in intellect when I was in school. Now I find myself the smartest in any room. It’s just not right.
I think the problem with it is people tend to mistake their intelligence and perspicacity for the baseline. So, a lot of people look around and think everyone is stupid but me, but don’t have the awareness to realize they probably made someone else feel that way today.
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It is really common, especially in teens and young adults. After that, people often just give fewer shits about random people’s thoughts about history and science
The problem isn’t that they’re unintelligent, it’s that they’re otherwise intelligent but do foolish things.
You can look at this as not a problem, or as a problem, or as an opportunity.
It’s a very common feeling, but it’s important to remember that you are also in your own bubble, and it’s entirely possible that you look objectively unintelligent to someone else.
There is a preponderance of those people right here in the USA
Especially frustrating are the clearly intelligent but wilfully and proudly ignorant. Canada has its share as well.
Feeling a little like Charleston Heston on the planet of the apes, huh?
Yeah, that’s earth.
I sell mattresses.
A plumber does plumbing stuff.
Electricians do their thing
Roofers roof.
I’m educated enough to understand the above jobs. I’m not intelligent enough to do the above jobs. That is why I hire people. My area of expertise is not yours. People are just people. Accept them where they are at & help them to become better when you can & only when they are ready.
tbh it doesn’t even really come down to intelligence. I’m pretty fucking dumb but I get mad about this too, because I’m willing to improve myself, to change my mind with new information, to know when to think for myself and when to seek out the better informed, to think critically as much as I can, to think or learn or enjoy thinking and learning for its own sake. I get mad and frustrated when people don’t do those things. and maybe that just makes me arrogant in a different way but I’m fine with that, I think some things are worth being a little too proud over
I stopped being annoyed. Creating a world view that requires 0 smart people to exist is zen. Systems should only be designed that run using an inefficient work force.
If you do your best, you will find ways to not let it upset you. If you are god like, it won’t affect how you treat them on the day to day.
Staying off the internet helps with the feelings of frustration (not that you won’t meet the ignorant in the wild, but most people seem to be willing to display their worst selves online).
Mostly, though, I am sad at the wasted opportunities. We have basically the entirety of recorded human wisdom and experience and creativity at our fingertips, and instead of seeing it as an opportunity to learn, we spend hours watching people dance on Tik Tok.
Stop focusing on it. It’ll drive you mad. Or worse, to suicide and then they win.
Not everyone has to be smart. But they do need to not just be helplessly ignorant and spread hate because of it.
Do you think Einstein walked around thinking everyone was a bunch of dumb shits?
I want to add that people have different strengths. I might consider some of my family members pretty unintelligent because of who they vote for, especially when it is against their own interests… but they’re also very smart about particular subjects or certain jobs. Like, my dad could take apart and rebuild a car, but he’s a nutcase.
We are all in our own bubbles and we just kinda have to do our best to expand our own understanding but also that of others.
Yes. There’s a reason for the saying “I don’t suffer fools gladly.” I’m regularly astonished at the lack of common sense or basic general knowledge I encounter in other adults in my day-to-day life.
No,
The most intelligent people in my life generally don’t blame individuals and classify people as “stupid”.
Yes we are in a world of division and misinformation, but it’s vital to listen and understand why people are feeling this way and what we can do to change course instead of ridiculing people.
What bothers me more is people who think they are intelligent, and then behave in a way that contradicts intelligence.
Like people who refuse to update their stances or opinions based on new evidence, because having an inaccurate opinion somehow equals personal failure. Or people who look at said new evidence and immediately start reaching for things to discredit said evidence.
Like bruh, it’s okay to be wrong. Just update yourself to be right when the opportunity arises.
That might not be a lack of intelligence but a lack of education. Also, in an age that promotes specialization and profitability over all else, being well read is not as valued as it once was. I work in tech and know many people that are brilliant in this field but ignorant of pretty much everything else.
I don’t think it’s really lack of intelligence that you’re seeing but the consequences of the choices our society has made.
It’s incredibly frustrating. I work with a whole bunch of them in my call center job.
yes. they’re everywhere
Well “objectively” 1/2 of the population have below average intelligence
I find myself more frustrated with objectively intelligent people who choose to be stupid and ignorant. Like stupid is a chose, dumb is not (in my mind). And most dumb people I know are actually really receptive to learning they just haven’t had the opportunity or anyone who cares to teach specifically them.
Stupid people however are not interested in anything other than being right because they view being wrong as a moral failure (thank you puritan nonsense). And while being dumb and stupid is annoying, being intelligent and stupid is the epitome of cutting off your nose to spite your face.
I met someone who legit couldn’t point out texas on a map. We live in the United States. She was not a little kid and she isn’t too dumb to grasp it either. This is someone who absolutely should’ve known where texas was. Some people just don’t care to learn very basic knowledge about the world around them.
I met someone who legit couldn’t point out texas on a map. We live in the United States. She was not a little kid and she isn’t too dumb to grasp it either. This is someone who absolutely should’ve known where texas was. Some people just don’t care to learn very basic knowledge about the world around them.
When I was in school, we never got to the end of the history book in any history class, from grade school all the way through college. Now, at age 60, I’ve lived through a lot of recent history, and when I see discussions of politics on Reddit and other social media, I keep thinking, “Why don’t these people know anything about the political events of even the 1990’s?” And then I realize, “Oh, I know this stuff because I lived through it and remember it, and these younger people weren’t born yet, or were little kids when this stuff took place.” And it looks like they never read those last chapters of their history books either.
I find myself more frustrated with objectively intelligent people who choose to be stupid and ignorant. Like stupid is a choice, dumb is not (in my mind). And most dumb people I know are actually really receptive to learning they just haven’t had the opportunity or anyone who cares to teach specifically them.
Stupid people however are not interested in anything other than being right because they view being wrong as a moral failure (thank you puritan nonsense). And while being dumb and stupid is annoying, being intelligent and stupid is the epitome of cutting off your nose to spite your face.
George Carlin — ‘Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.’
Fuck that. Sound arrogant. There’s a fuck ton of stupid people, and the government is pandering to them (at least where I’m from).
i like the theory of multiple intelligences (i think that’s what it’s called?). everyone is smart as something: emotional intelligence, school smarts, etc. you could be really smart at school but totally stupid at common sense.
I’m a flight attendant who got a full ride to college. I said I would do it for a year or free travel, yet I’ve stayed. Everyday I’m reminded how unintelligent the world is. Many flight attendants are just dumb. I stopped even trying to hold a conversation with them.
Even stupid people can bring insight to an issue. Especially if the problem has people involved- you have to not only come up with a solution, you have to sell it. That’s when I try to bring in people who can relate to others well on their level. If I can convince ONE person that plan C is a good thing, most others will come along too.
Short answer: yes. We all have our stupid moments
Yes it’s normal
Read the comment sections of Facebook, tiktok, and Instagram posts and man it sucks
And then we have Reddit where it’s similar to those I mentioned above but with a superiority complex
Were all idiots , and were all ignorant. Everyone is just guessing at the end of the day. I’ve met one truly illiterate person in my life, and he would 100% outlive me if society collapsed.
In 1970 there were 2.3 Billion people and for a lot of good reasons people knew if they were knowledgeable or not. And we stayed in our lanes. We’re currently at 8.02 Billion and surrounded by people proud of their ignorance and even more proud of not wanting to learn.
Find your tribe and stick together, because at 10 Billion, chaos is going to reign in most places.
There are intelligent people who are uneducated, undereducated or badly educated people.
George Carlin has entered the chat.
The science used to claim that Camels were the better cigarette. Has society gotten smarter or dumber since then?
Most people claim they “know the science” but they’re just agreeing with people they perceive as smarter without actually digesting the material.
USA…54% of adults read at a 6th grade level. Thats all you need to know.
Imagining them as an inexperienced 7-year-old helps me calm down. I can’t be mad at a kid that young for being dumb.
Gotta remember they are irrelevant to your own life so care factor zero. I regularly run into idiots on Reddit and their stupidity ends up being quality entertainment
The problem isn’t intelligence, it’s tribalism. Most truly stupid ideas people support are shibboleths for some group or other. Like the young earth creationists- contrast how they answer questions about the age of the earth vs anything that’s not wrapped in their ideology. If you asked them about, frex, trade patterns in Japanese Manchuria, they’d admit they didn’t know and go look it up. But somehow, they claim to know the answer to this complicated geological question of the age of the planet without even reading the literature. Because it’s not real, it’s make-believe to signal group identity.
I know right, its like, do you’re own research…..
All the new science am seeing on YouTube proves it’s flat.
Intelligent =/= educated
As the adage goes, “stupidity is permanent, ignorance can be fixed.”
Your post’s body text is about ignorance.
Absolutely yes, I think my number one comment to my friends is that “common sense” isn’t actually all that common. It’s annoys the crap out of me.
its fucking frustrating, but even more fucking frustrating when those people aren’t self aware..
Not everyone is interested in history and science.
Think of all the people who aren’t particularly smart, but still successful and happy in life.
Then think about how smart you are and how you still have problems.
Ask yourself how you’d like to be treated by people who’d be able to help you with the things you struggle with.
Remember to try and be that way towards others in what you have to offer, even when you feel frustrated when people struggle with the things you find easy.
Welcome to my daily head pounding on the wall out of frustration at the idiocy of the human race.
Unbearable
Its a common thing. But you should also try and focus on your own biases. Everyone has them, nobody is an exception.
I firmly believe the collective intelligence of Americans has dropped in the last 10 years
If you were competing against the entire population of the earth and they were all as smart or smarter than you, do you think you would be more or less successful at life than you are now?
Yes! It can be really annoying. Though I think it’s important to remember that human stupidity is extremely contextual. A lot of the things humans mess with are things we invented and only we use. Written language, computers, cars, etc. are frankly insane innovations. A wolf, for example, is not expected to know grammar, civics, or economics to any extent. But humans are, and I think it’s important to remember that, while humans are incredibly well suited to knowledge, we aren’t born knowing. We are animals, who must learn to be people.
there’s a war on intellectualism and constant coddling of the dumbest people. common sense doesn’t protect a business from a lawsuit in the u.s. so we are just reaping what we’ve sewn at this point
We live in a society where being extremely stupid is usually not lethal.
This will only get worse.
i’m sure there’s a german word for it
It’s definitely normal to be frustrated. But I think the key is to try to be kind anyway. Which is very hard sometimes, but I am trying haha
I struggle with this mostly at work. I’m middle management at a grocery store and deal with all levels of experience and intelligence. This is across employees and customers. If someone has an open mind about learning then that is what matters to me. Had a conversation with an 18 year old about how they basically aren’t dependable at all and how them struggling (and mostly failing) to work one 3-5 hr shift a week isn’t acceptable. Basically trying to tell them to quit. The response I got was so out of touch with reality I almost choked. They asked to transfer to another location.
In my experience, you’re not as smart as you think you are. But you don’t know other people, and there are dumber than you give them credit for. So I guess it’s a wash. Either way, I get it I am very dissatisfied with a lot of people around me. More disappointed I think is the better word.
But people nowadays are actually more intelligent than they were in the past, so at least we’ve got that going for us I guess.
It’s apathy that makes people that way
Which side of the line do you believe you’re on?
The vast majority of truly unintelligent people I’ve ever met in this life were convinced they were surrounded by iddiots.
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin
Consider that if you are of average intelligence (IQ 100), then half the world is dumber than you.
But also note that there are 7 types of intelligence (EQ = Emotional Intelligence, for example), and it is unlikely that you excel in all 7.
The average IQ is 100, which is true no matter what is being measured, or how, in such tests. Half the population is less intelligent than the other half.
If you think you are intelligent and everyone else is dumb, chances are you’re hypomanic or just naive.
To paraphrase George Carlin, remember how stupid the average person is, then consider that half the population is more stupid than that. Not to put too fine a point on it, SOMEBODY has to be relatively stupid, just statistically.
I’m only just smart enough to know how stupid I am.
Lead poisoning is a helluva drug
you are frustrated that there are lots of people more stupid than you. but you need to reframe this:
It would be even more frustrating if the opposite were true: if there were not many people more stupid than you, it would mean that you were one of the dumb people. You would lack the ability to protect yourself from liars, charlatans, and scammers.
If you could snap your fingers and make everybody in the world smarter, it would stop your current frustration, but cause new and worse frustrations.
Yes- I feel pretty dumb about it but I only realized how dumb people were after graduating from college and working odd jobs until I could get a stable one. I guess I was just naive and expected more, In other news I wish I was less intelligent (not that I’m a genius) because I feel like those people have much more fun.
Absolutely! Its like getting into a Calc class with a bunch of people that never passed Algebra.
HOWEVER in general there are very few people who are actually smarter than anyone else. We all have skills to share and skills to learn.
Hated being called smart as a kid and still hate it. Makes people less likely to teach you anything for fun 🤷♀️
It’s perfectly fine. We all know that stupid people outnumber the Smart ones at least 5:1.
It is completely normal for intelligent people, yes.
You think that knowing history or science is intelligence, whilst feeling frustrated at the lack of intelligence around you?
Think about it this way: the IQ scale for all of its faults is based on a normalized Bell curve. That means the average IQ is 100 with a normal distribution in both directions. Therefore, half of the 8 billion people on the planet, have an IQ below 100.
Really makes me want to move to a country where they prioritize education
The sad thing is many unintelligent people believe that they are objectively smarter than they are.
You get a bias, you get a bias. Everybody gets a bias!
And here we are, asking if we are the arrogant idiots…
Remember how dumb the average person is. Then remember that half of them are stupider than that. -George Carlin.
I am more frustrated with the willfully ignorant
OMG yes! It absolutely has to be some sort of mind-control. So many people were not this fkn stupid 10 years ago.
Yea but you’ll learn that oftentimes in the circles you personally want to be in, whether professionally or in your personal life, you will encounter many people who are just as smart or smarter than you. You’ll find places filled with people you respect. I recently joined my local Gem and Mineral society, learning to do some lapidary and silversmithing stuff. I’m flabbergasted at the wealth of knowledge and experience I encounter over and over, with so many members. Tons of really smart people and extremely skilled artists.
Perhaps at one time, but not since the GOP weaponized stupidity.
Yes, it is normal.
Yes. Imagine how stupid the average person is. Now think that half of all people are dumber than that.
not trying to be mean, it’s normal to be frustrated until you get to the age you realize your just as unintelligent as everyone else.
How are you objectively gauging intelligence?
History and science are facts. An idiot can remember facts.
“Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.”
― George Carlin
Yes, but the way you deal with it is by getting to know some of those same people. You’ll often find they have a strength in something you don’t. Academic knowledge is important, but it’s not everything.
I remember thinking that once everyone has an encyclopedia in their pocket the entire world would get smarter. Holy crap I was so wrong.
Humility will serve you well
It has to be normal, I often feel the same way.
I try to frame it as I’ve had stupid and dumb moments or even for entire years. I’m not stupid. There are 7 billion people in this world and that is a lot of stupid and dumb moments and phases.
TBF, it’s only 50% of the population.
Well, I am a small female who has been told to retake a computerized math test after pointing out that the area of a 11ft by 12ft square couldn’t be 5 x the radius. Soo…yes.
It’s not just the ignorance that is noticeable,.. but to me the biggest thing that annoys me is that people just simply dont seem to care any more. (they don’t care bout others, they don’t care about how their behavior effects other people around them.)
When I go through daily life and am confronted with various situations , I try to ask myself:
How can I fix this for me ?
How can I fix this for me and people around me ?
How can I fix this for me, people around me and people who come along in time after me ?
.. Ideally, that 3rd option is the best option. Not always possible but it’s what I strive for.
But a lot of people these days just seem to have a “I got mine, f everyone else” soft of attitude. I think part of that is driven by anger and desperation and etc.
I think it’s also a “failure of Leadership”. When you have people in higher up positions who are “modeling bad behavior” (such as not following laws or not being held accountable) .. it percolates down to people below who think “Well, if nobody else is following laws,.. I won’t either”
There’s a air of truth here, but that mentality is a bit arrogant. I say this as someone who’s felt this, but I’ve been humbled enough times that I know it’s not entirely true. Are there some mind-bogglingly stupid mfs out there? Absolutely! That said, intelligent people are more common than you’d think. Some are like me, I’m a bit of a clumsy goofball sometimes and I can look like an idiot to some people. I’ve also had really deep conversations with people and told that I’m wise beyond my years.
I literally hate when people actively use objectively unnecessary adverbs.
I abide by 20% of people unapproachable idiots, 70% being okay, and then 10% being psychotic
Its normal if you can identify it, and it’s healthy if you can improve yourself in light of it.
Hard to judge. Unless I see exam scores, I won’t judge people. Although you can kind of tell, I’ve been surprised before. People don’t go out of their way to figure stuff out. It takes too much energy. You probably don’t either and even if you did, you are not them. Judging them too harshly is the worse crime here. Be smart, be empathetic and kind.
Everybody feels like this. Everybody thinks they are among the smartest.
If we all give a little grace to the idiot, then the asshole is likely to give some grace to us.
Where I live, paragons of wisdom like Joe Rogan and Ben Shapiro are doing the best they can to educate and enlighten a recalcitrant, stubbornly ignorant populace.
Remember, half the people you meet are below average (thus us a joke but, mathematically, it’s true)
Yes. I work in HR and let me tell you….
You’ll have a very hard time finding a genius who isn’t depressed!
Remember that half of everyone walking around has an IQ less than 100. So tying their shoes in the morning is a big accomplishment.
Like George Carlin said – Think how stupid the average person is, then realize half of everyone else is even stupider.
I think this a true peak Reddit post.
Got people’s blood boiling out here cause people don’t know Julius Caesar didn’t have the title of emperor, or these sheep don’t know what the Mpemba Effect is and how it affects their refrigerator ice.
Yes and all the objectively intelligent people agree with you
Darwin’s big beak finches were equally self conscious about asking the same questions of their small beaked brethren
Welcome to the club.
I gave up a while ago once i realised the world didn’t change much from highschool, legitimately one of my worst nightmares came to light and well i’ve just been givin up since people are dumb and they believe their assumptions over ur facts even when they are supposedly “smart” and it makes me upset that when asking a straightforward question makes ya a “dumbass” when asking questions is how ya learn and get smart in the first place. This breed of humanity is really just against intellect in general i believe
Let me guess. Are you an American? I’m one myself.
In the beginning God created morons and he created far to many of them…that is if there is a God as science says there is not but who knows?
Those same people are why Galileo was murdered. They still exist, and yes they are frustrating as all hell.
Nah, I’m used to y’all by now
If you are of average intelligence, then that means half the world is dumber than you. And half is smarter. The dumber half is just really loud and proud of their ignorance. And the smarter you are, the less ignorance (and bliss) you have.
The world needs garbagemen
I get this feeling about my coworkers. A lot. Daily.
I’m not very smart. Average intelligence at best. And I am so fucking tired of how stupid people are. I mean In specific in ways that they can improve. I don’t mean people should be brilliant mathematicians, or the next Socrates. I mean basic critical thinking. This is U.S.-centric, but an example is the current economy. Things were ok. Some room for improvement, of course, but trucking along and projected to continue to do so. Then that dumbass orange menace got his hands on things, tanked it, and people are actually believing it when he blames Biden. That’s the kind of stupidity I’m so so tired of.
I think there’s a “sweet spot” when it comes to intelligence. You’re objectively smarter than the average people around you, but you can still relate to them on their level. Too much intelligence makes you seem weird and out of touch. And it alienates you.
Might be you
So you live in east Texas too? 😉🤣
Knowledge doesn’t mean intelligence.
Anyone can know about science or history. Maybe they don’t.
Intelligence is how quickly you’re able to learn and apply that information to context.
Someone tries to say that they should change something some way.
You tell them that it’s already been done and didn’t work, what they did and what the result was.
An intelligent person thinks, sometimes accepts it, usually questions it. As you feed them more information, either they realized it makes sense, or they bring up different factors and possibilities that could make it work.
An unintelligent person either accepts it or insists upon doing it, even if you give them the information as to why it wouldn’t work.
Yes, it’s very common. More common than it should have to be.
Imagine being from a culture that prides itself and book learning- FML
It repeatedly amazes me how willing people are able to self sabotage and do so proudly holding their own ignorance as a badge of honor.
A middling intelligence person is frustrated in such a world. A truly intelligent person figures out how to make an enjoyable game of separating the fools and their money. Which are you; middling or truly intelligent?
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No.
It’s not new. I just think we are much more aware of how dumb many people actually are. Now that they have social media to broadcast it to the world.
normal? sure.
Is it reasonable? no.
Youre probably not as smart as you’ve lead yourself to believe and undoubtedly have an unchecked ego if you think “knowing history or science” should discount someone’s opinions or ideas. Ironically it shows that if anything you’re no different in being unable to “see past their own bubble of ignorance.”
Yes. The stupid – it burns.
There’s a reason smart people have a higher rate of depression… we’re surrounded by idiots.
Hey, did he just call us stupid? How did he know?
If you feel there are a large quantity of unintelligent people, you’re likely one of them. Just about everyone has something they know far more than average.
It‘s important to keep in mind that not knowing anything about history or science is not a sign of being unintelligent. Intelligence and education are not the same thing.
It’s frustrating. Especially if you’re older and grew up in an era that valued intelligence. Idiocracy came way too fast.
I always considered myself average to below average in intellect when I was in school. Now I find myself the smartest in any room. It’s just not right.
I think the problem with it is people tend to mistake their intelligence and perspicacity for the baseline. So, a lot of people look around and think everyone is stupid but me, but don’t have the awareness to realize they probably made someone else feel that way today.
It’s a l’il judgy and intolerant, but you carry on. It’s a big club you’ve joined
Nothing I dislike about unintelligent people. What annoys me are deliberately uninformed people.
MAN, YOU ARE SO ARROGANT! shame on you!!!